Bruce Seldon

Bruce Seldon
Seldon (left) and son Isiah (right), 2010
Born	Bruce Samuel Seldon (1967-01-30) January 30, 1967 Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
Nationality	American
Other names	The Atlantic City Express
Statistics
Weight(s)	Heavyweight
Height	6 ft 1+1⁄2 in (187 cm)
Reach	78 in (198 cm)
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	48
Wins	40
Wins by KO	36
Losses	8

Bruce Samuel Seldon (born January 30, 1967) is an American former professional boxer and current boxing trainer, who competed from 1988 to 1996, and 2004 to 2009. He held the WBA heavyweight title from 1995 to 1996, most notably losing to Mike Tyson via knockout in his second defense.

Amateur career

Seldon compiled an amateur record of 20 wins and 4 losses, and won the New Jersey Golden Gloves in the super heavyweight division.

Professional career

Known as "The Atlantic City Express", Seldon began his career on October 4, 1988 with a first-round knockout of Joel McGraw and won his first 18 fights without a blemish. During his winning streak he defeated some notable boxers: Ezra Sellers (future world cruiserweight title challenger), Ossie Ocasio (former cruiserweight champion and heavyweight title challenger), David Bey (former world rated contender), and Jose Ribalta (former world title contender).

On April 18, 1991 future WBC heavyweight champion Oliver McCall handed Seldon his first defeat. Seldon was ahead on the scorecards but tired and was knocked down by McCall three times in the ninth. In his next fight Seldon was matched with future undisputed world heavyweight champion Riddick Bowe who defeated him.

Seldon returned in 1992 with a victory over Jesse Ferguson whom he stopped on an eye injury, but was knocked down and outpointed the same year by ex-champion Tony Tubbs. Seldon signed with promoter Don King in 1993 and boxed on a series of his undercards, most notably in August 1993 when he stopped ex-champion Greg Page in nine rounds.

WBA heavyweight champion

In 1995, world heavyweight champion George Foreman was stripped of the WBA title for declining to defend it against Tony Tucker. As Seldon was the second-ranked contender, a fight between him and Tucker was arranged for the vacant belt on April 8, 1995 in Las Vegas. Seldon, the underdog, used his jab to great effect and swelled Tucker's eye shut, to the point where the fight was stopped by the ringside doctor after seven rounds.

On August 18, 1995, Seldon fought on the undercard of the Mike Tyson-Peter McNeeley fight that marked Tyson's return to boxing. In the first defense of his title, Seldon again used his jab to control Joe Hipp and stop him in the tenth round.

Seldon vs Tyson

Main article: Bruce Seldon vs. Mike Tyson

Seldon's next defense was scheduled against Tyson, who in early 1996 won the WBC title for a second time by knocking out Frank Bruno. The bout was originally to be a title unification fight, with both Seldon's WBA belt and Tyson's WBC belt at stake. However, the WBC mandated that Tyson defend his belt against former champion Lennox Lewis first. Since the fight with Seldon was already signed, Tyson vacated his belt and only Seldon's was on the line when the two fought on September 7, 1996.

The fight was marred by controversy as Seldon lost by knockout in the first round. His performance in the fight was vastly criticized, as he was knocked down twice on what appeared to be light or "phantom" punches from Tyson. Rumors started that Seldon had been paid to take a dive against Tyson, with the fans chanting "fix" following the decision. Although Seldon claimed in a post fight interview with Jim Gray that he did not take a dive, the criticism of his performance (including accusations that he took a dive) did not stop and Seldon elected to retire following the fight. Rapper Tupac Shakur attended the fight and was shot on the journey home, leading to his death six days later.

Legal problems after first retirement

The Independent reported on the 23rd May 1998 "Seldon is currently on $50,000 bail in Camden, New Jersey, awaiting sentence after pleading guilty to supplying a 15-year-old girl with marijuana and having unspecified sexual activity with her at his house. He faces a maximum of 10 years in jail, the sentence to be delivered on 26 June".[4] According to the New York Times/Associated Press dated 27th June 1998 "The former World Boxing Association heavyweight champion Bruce Seldon was sentenced to five years' probation and 364 days in jail by a Camden, N.J., judge yesterday for smoking marijuana with a 15-year-old girl and taking part in sexual activity with her last year. I'm terribly sorry for everything that happened, Seldon said. I'm not a criminal. I'm not a bad person. I didn't mean for any of this to happen. Seldon pleaded guilty last month to two counts of endangering the welfare of a child. In exchange, prosecutors dismissed a more serious charge of sexual assault as well as drug and weapons offenses.[5]

Comeback

Seldon attempted a comeback at age 37 in 2004. He defeated two journeymen before gaining a high-profile fight on HBO with Gerald Nobles. Abandoning his jab and boxing style for a punch out, Seldon decked Nobles in the second and was ahead on points but ended up throwing in the towel due to an eye injury in the ninth. In his next bout, an overweight Seldon was stopped in two rounds by Tye Fields. Seldon launched a second comeback in 2007, now into his 40s, and knocked out a series of journeymen before being knocked out himself by ranked contenders Kevin Johnson and Fres Oquendo. He was also KO'd in four during an exhibition with Alexander Povetkin.

Professional boxing record

48 fights	40 wins	8 losses
By knockout	36	7
By decision	4	1

No.	Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Round, time	Date	Location	Notes
48	Loss	40–8	Fres Oquendo	KO	9 (10), 2:35	Jul 24, 2009	UIC Pavilion, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.	For vacant WBA–NABA interim heavyweight title
47	Win	40–7	Gabe Brown	TKO	5 (8)	May 15, 2009	Broadway by the Bay, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
46	Win	39–7	Brad Gregory	TKO	2 (8), 2:01	Nov 7, 2008	Bally's, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
45	Loss	38–7	Kevin Johnson	TKO	5 (10), 0:28	Sep 5, 2008	Bally's, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
44	Win	38–6	Livin Castillo	TKO	5 (8), 0:57	May 31, 2008	Showboat, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
43	Win	37–6	Jay Sweetman	KO	2 (8), 1:56	Mar 10, 2007	Best Western Banquet Hall, Winchester, Virginia, U.S.
42	Win	36–6	Marcus Rhode	TKO	1 (6), 1:05	Feb 10, 2007	Klein Jewish Community Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
41	Loss	35–6	Tye Fields	KO	2 (10), 1:14	Oct 28, 2005	The Orleans, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
40	Loss	35–5	Gerald Nobles	TKO	9 (10), 0:41	May 15, 2004	Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
39	Win	35–4	Lenzie Morgan	TKO	2 (6)	Apr 9, 2004	Drexel Armory, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
38	Win	34–4	Otis Tisdale	KO	3 (6), 3:00	Mar 6, 2004	The Blue Horizon, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
37	Loss	33–4	Mike Tyson	TKO	1 (12), 1:49	Sep 7, 1996	MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.	Lost WBA heavyweight title
36	Win	33–3	Joe Hipp	TKO	10 (12), 1:47	Aug 19, 1995	MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.	Retained WBA heavyweight title
35	Win	32–3	Tony Tucker	RTD	7 (12), 3:00	Apr 8, 1995	Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.	Won vacant WBA heavyweight title
34	Win	31–3	Bill Corrigan	KO	1	Dec 17, 1994	Coliseo General Rumiñahui, Quito, Ecuador
33	Win	30–3	Tui Toia	TKO	3 (10)	Jul 2, 1994	The Mirage, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
32	Win	29–3	Nathaniel Fitch	TKO	4 (12)	Feb 19, 1994	Coliseum, Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S.	Retained IBF Inter-Continental heavyweight title
31	Win	28–3	Greg Page	TKO	9 (12), 0:49	Aug 6, 1993	Coliseo Rubén Rodríguez, Bayamon, Puerto Rico	Retained IBF Inter-Continental heavyweight title
30	Win	27–3	Mike Robinson	KO	2	Apr 17, 1993	Fernwood Resort, Bushkill, Pennsylvania, U.S.
29	Win	26–3	Al Shoffner	TKO	7	Feb 15, 1993	McGonigle Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
28	Win	25–3	Alexander Popov	TKO	2 (12), 3:00	Jan 24, 1993	Etess Arena, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.	Retained IBF Inter-Continental heavyweight title
27	Loss	24–3	Tony Tubbs	UD	10	Oct 14, 1992	Broadway by the Bay, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
26	Win	24–2	Percell Davis	TKO	3, 2:38	Sep 18, 1992	Fernwood Resort, Bushkill, Pennsylvania, U.S.
25	Win	23–2	Mike Dixon	UD	10	Jul 9, 1992	Broadway by the Bay, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
24	Win	22–2	Larry Givens	TKO	2	Jun 22, 1992	Greensburg, Indiana, U.S.
23	Win	21–2	Jimmy Taylor	TKO	1	Apr 16, 1992	Central Plaza Hotel, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.
22	Win	20–2	Dion Burgess	TKO	1	Feb 9, 1992	Broadway by the Bay, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
21	Win	19–2	Jesse Ferguson	RTD	5 (15), 3:00	Jan 19, 1992	Etess Arena, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.	Won vacant IBF Inter-Continental heavyweight title
20	Loss	18–2	Riddick Bowe	KO	1 (10), 1:48	Aug 9, 1991	Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
19	Loss	18–1	Oliver McCall	TKO	9 (10), 2:37	Apr 18, 1991	Etess Arena, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
18	Win	18–0	Percell Davis	TKO	1 (10), 1:07	Mar 22, 1991	Trump's Castle, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
17	Win	17–0	Jose Ribalta	RTD	3 (10), 3:00	Jan 11, 1991	Etess Arena, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
16	Win	16–0	David Bey	TKO	10 (10), 0:38	Nov 1, 1990	Etess Arena, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
15	Win	15–0	John Morton	TKO	7, 1:44	Aug 16, 1990	Sheraton Hotel, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
14	Win	14–0	Tom Sandner	RTD	2 (8), 3:00	Jun 24, 1990	Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
13	Win	13–0	Ossie Ocasio	UD	8	May 18, 1990	San Jose, California, U.S.
12	Win	12–0	Danny Wofford	UD	6	Apr 7, 1990	Flea Market, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S.
11	Win	11–0	Jerry Jones	TKO	8 (8), 0:42	Mar 23, 1990	Showboat, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
10	Win	10–0	Amos Lisboa-Casillas	KO	1 (4), 0:45	Feb 18, 1990	Steel Pier, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
9	Win	9–0	Lorenzo Canady	RTD	2, 3:00	Jan 15, 1990	Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
8	Win	8–0	Hassan Shabazz	TKO	5 (6), 0:08	Nov 28, 1989	Alumni Arena, Buffalo, New York, U.S.
7	Win	7–0	Isaac Poole	KO	1 (4)	Sep 15, 1989	Jai-Alai Fronton, Miami, Florida, U.S.
6	Win	6–0	Ezra Sellers	TKO	2 (4)	Aug 22, 1989	Showboat, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
5	Win	5–0	Warren Thompson	TKO	3 (4)	Jun 25, 1989	Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
4	Win	4–0	Jesse McGhee	UD	4	May 30, 1989	Trump's Castle, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
3	Win	3–0	Mike Robinson	TKO	3 (4)	Mar 21, 1989	Trump's Castle, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
2	Win	2–0	Tyrone Barwell	KO	1 (4), 1:34	Nov 23, 1988	Convention Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1	Win	1–0	Joel McGraw	TKO	1 (4)	Oct 4, 1988	Atlantis Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.	Professional debut

References

4. https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/boxing-express-ride-to-oblivion-1157792.html 5. https://www.nytimes.com/1998/06/27/sports/plus-in-the-news-seldon-sentenced-to-a-year-in-jail.html

External links

• Boxing record for Bruce Seldon from BoxRec (registration required)